Apple orders entire supply of TSMC's 3nm chips for iPhone 15 Pro and M3 Macs (macrumors.com)

Article summary

Apple has reportedly secured all available orders for TSMC's 3nm process, which will be used in the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro lineup and new MacBooks. The 3nm technology is expected to deliver a 35% power efficiency improvement over the 4nm process used in the iPhone 14 Pro. Mass production of TSMC's 3nm process began in late December, with monthly output set to reach 45,000 wafers in March. Apple's procurement of the entire initial supply of 3nm chips may give the company a competitive edge in the market.

Main themes

• Apple's 3nm chip procurement
• TSMC's production capacity
• Competitive edge in the market
• Anti-trust laws and regulations
• Geopolitical implications of tech industry deals
• Future of semiconductor technology

What commenters say

• Apple's purchase of the entire initial supply of 3nm chips is a strategic move to gain a competitive edge in the market.
• The concept of 'cornering the market' on 3nm chips is misleading, as Apple is buying all available supply for actual use.
• Buying TSMC would be subject to anti-trust laws if Apple restricted access to supplies that their competitors currently have access to.
• The Taiwanese government would likely block the sale of TSMC to Apple even if a sale could be agreed upon.
• Apple's strategy is to create a monopsony for high-end parts, and buying TSMC would work against that.
• The use of terms like 'entire supply' is vague and may refer to a specific period of time, such as until TSMC's next node.
• The 3nm process is expected to have a significant impact on the industry, with some predicting that it will lead to the demise of smaller players in the market.